Impact of Country Personality on Attitude Toward Foreign Products : Self-congruity as a Mediator

This research examines the direct effect of country personality (CP) on consumer product attitude and indirect effect through consumer self-congruity between CP and his/her own self-concept on product attitude in an emerging country- Turkey. We propose an integrated structural equation model to examine the relationships. Measurement scales for CP, self-congruity and attitude are developed whose validities and reliabilities are confirmed by exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses with data collected from a sample of consumers in Turkey on two countries: USA and China. The results reveal that four out of the original six dimensions of CP remain after a CFA is completed. The results show a direct effect of CP for two aspects of CP on product attitude as well as an indirect effect for one of the aspects of CP on product attitude through consumer’s self-congruity as the mediator. These results also suggest that the CP construct may require further testing in other emerging markets to confirm the generalizability of the construct

Ülke kişiliği ölçeğinin türkçe uyarlamasının güvenilirliği ve geçerliliği

Bu çalışmanın amacı ülke imajı ölçümüne yeni bir öneri getiren ülke kişiliği ölçeğinin geçerlilik ve güvenilirliğini incelemektir. Araştırmaya konu olan ülkeler olarak Amerika Birleşik Devletleri, Çin Halk Cumhuriyeti ve Japonya tercih edilmiştir. Araştırma verisi denekler arası tasarımla ve kolayda örnekleme yöntemiyle İnternet üzerinden toplanmıştır. Yani her bir katılımcı sadece bir ülkeyle ilgili olan anket formunu cevaplamıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemi 412 kişiden oluşmaktadır. Analizde öncelikle ölçeğin güvenilirliği Cronbach’s alfa katsayısı ile hesaplanmış, açıklayıcı ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizi ile faktör yapıları incelenmiştir. Geçerli bir ölçüm modeli elde edilene kadar açıklayıcı ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizi tekrar edilmiştir. Ayrıca ölçek, ayrışma ve yakınsama geçerliliği açısından test edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak “kibirli, pısırık, dindar, eğlenceli” faktörlerinden ve 18 ifadeden oluşan ülke kişiliği ölçüm modelinin daha geçerli ve güvenilir bir model olduğu görülmüştür. Ülkelerin kişilik faktörlerinde almış olduğu değerler tek yönlü ANOVA ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Kibirli, pısırık ve eğlenceli boyutunda en düşük ortalamaya sahip ülke Japonya olurken, dindar boyutunda ise ABD yer almıştır. Ülke kişiliği ölçeğinin ülkeler arasında öngörülen farklılıkları ortaya koyabilmesi, ülke kişiliği ölçeğinin bilinen gruplar yöntemi açısından da geçerli bir ölçek olduğunu göstermiştir

Web Advertising Value and Students’ Attitude Towards Web Advertising

Internet has changed the type of relationship between advertisers, advertising agencies, the media and consumers. Rapid growth in Web Ad (WA) revenues indicates the viability of WA as an alternative to that of traditional media. This rapid expansion of advertising to web sites requires a better understanding about users' perceptions of Web Ads since attributes of the media can affect consumer attitudes towards advertising. Therefore, it has also become increasingly important for today's advertisers to create favorable attitudes towards their Websites. The aim of this research is to identify attitudes of Internet users towards web advertising. In other words, this study investigates the interrelationships between Web Advertising Value (WAV) and Attitude Towards Web Advertising (AWA). The antecedents of advertising value namely, irritation, informativeness, credibility, entertainment will also be incorporated. Data is collected from 413 students of Marmara University Faculty of Business Administration. Responses are evaluated via structural equation modelling which enables researchers to offer a model that explain consumer behavior in online environments. Keywords: Web advertising, web advertising value, consumer behavior, attitude towards web advertising, structural equation modelling.

Cone beam computed tomography evaluation of variations in the sella turcica in a Turkish population

Background: The aim of the study was to analyse the variations of the sella turcica and their relationship to age and gender. Materials and methods: The cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of the patients who referred to Gaziantep University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology were analysed by two examiners and 200 CBCT images were evaluated retrospectively. Sella turcica shapes of individuals were described according to Axelsson’s classification as either normal or with aberrations including: oblique anterior wall, double contour of the floor, sella turcica bridging, irregularity in the posterior part of the dorsum sella, and pyramidal shape of the dorsum sella. Results: Normal sella turcica was the most common type seen in 100 (49.8%) individuals. The secondary common type was double contour of the floor of sella turcica seen in 46 (22.9%) patients. Thirty-two (15.9%) patients had oblique anterior wall. Seventeen (8.5%) individuals had pyramidal shape of the dorsum sella, 3% irregularity in the posterior part of the sella turcica. None of the patients had sella turcica bridging. Irregularity in the posterior part of the sella turcica and pyramidal shape of the dorsum sella were reported significantly more frequent in female than male. Conclusions: Sella turcica varies in shape and morphology regardless of age. Normal sella turcica was the most frequent type in the study group. Irregularity in the posterior part of the sella turcica and pyramidal shape of the dorsum sella were reported more frequent in female than male

Bone height measurement of maxillary and mandibular bones in panoramic radiographs of edentulous patients

Objectives. The purpose of this in vitro study were to determine variation in maxillary and mandibular vertical measurements and to assess vertical bone loss made from panoramic radiographs in edentulous measurements. Study Design. In this descriptive study, a total of 600 panoramic radiograph’s of edentulous patient were examined. The mean ages of edentulous patients were 31 and 87 years respectively. Measurements were made from reference lines drawn from anatomic landmarks on standardized panoramic rediographs. All radiographs were made using a standardized manner by the same technician. Twelve sites were measured on every panoramic radiograph whenever possible, five sites in the maxilla and seven sites in the mandible. Results. In the maxilla all vertical measurements distance were significantly greater in the edentulous men than in the edentulous women (p<0,05). In the mandible all vertical measurements distance were significantly greater in the edentulous men than in the edentulous women (p<0,05). Conclusion. The results of this study may guide clinicians to make primer decision of implant insertion area for implant supported prosthesis in edentulous patient

Retrospective analysis of impacted first and second permanent molars in the turkish population : a multicenter study

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze 170 case series of patients with 200 impacted first and second permanent molars. Study Design: Records of 104.408 patients were retrospectively screened in this multicenter study. The chosen study population consists of 170 patients who presented with impacted or retained first and second permanent molar. All patients with impacted first or second permanent molar had undergone clinical and radiographic examinations. The following factors were analyzed: age and gender, frequency, distribution, location, position, the number of impacted tooth, primary and secondary retention, degree of infraocclusion, associated pathologic conditions and treatment method. Results: There were a total of 170 patients (male: 91, female: 79, mean ages 22.69±8.99 years ranging from 13 to 66 years of age) with 200 retained or impacted permanent molars in 104.408 patients. In this study, 200 impacted teeth which were analyzed were 125 molars (62.5%) vertical position, 17 (8.5%) horizontal, 38 (19%) mesioangular, 12 (6%) distoangular, and 7 (3.5%) buccolingual inclination. There were 52 primarily retained (26%) and 32 secondarily retained (16%) molars. 137 (68.5%) molars were asymptomatic. Cystic formation was present in 13 (6.5%) cases. Conclusions: Although the impactions of first and second permanent molars do not occur frequently, it is important to make an early diagnosis in order to start treatment at the optimal time. © Medicina Oral S.L

The prevalence of pulp stones in a Turkish population. A radiographic survey

Objectives: The goal of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of pulp stones in a Turkish population. Any possible associations between pulp stones and gender, tooth type and dental arch were also evaluated. Study Design: Four hundred and sixty nine patients' bitewing radiographs which were reached through the patient database of Erciyes University Dentistry School, Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology were examined. Of these 469 subjects whose mean age was 24(± 10.7), 302 were females and 167 were males. A total of 6,926 teeth were examined during this study. Pulp stones were recorded as present or absent and any relations with gender, tooth type and dental arch were noted. Results: Pulp stones were identified in 270 (57.6 %) of the subjects and in 1,038 (15 %) of the teeth examined. Their presence were seldom found in the premolars (9.07%) but was much higher in the molars (90.92 %). Pulp stone occurrence was significantly more common in the first molars than in the second molars, and in the first premolars than in the second premolars in each dental arch. Their occurrence was higher in the maxilla than in the mandible for each tooth type. No difference between the two genders could be identified. Conclusion: Pulp stones are not only incidental radiographic findings of the pulp tissue but may also be an indicator of some serious underlying disease. On the other hand, they may provide useful information to predict about the susceptibility of patients for other dystrophic soft tissue calcifications such as urinary calculi and calcified atheromas. However, further study on this issue is needed. © Medicina Oral S. L

Linking Regenerative Travel and Residents’ Support for Tourism Development in Kaua’i Island (Hawaii): Moderating-Mediating Effects of Travel-Shaming and Foreign Tourist Attractiveness

“Leaving the place behind, better than before” is the regenerative state-of-mind approach to reset, rethink and move forward, beyond sustainable tourism. Despite growing global attention, empirical evidence supporting tourism developments through regenerative travel remains extremely rare. Moreover, rampant incidents of travel-shaming across tourism destinations undermine foreign tourist attractiveness, ultimately affecting residents’ support for tourism developments. To address this overlooked and potential research gap, the present study develops and tests a holistic moderated-mediation model of resident’s support for tourism development, involving regenerative travel, travel-shaming and foreign tourist attractiveness. Drawing on study data from 463 islanders in Kauai (Hawaii) and the use of structural equation modeling via Mplus, the study provides pioneering evidence on the effects of regenerative travel on residents’ support for tourism development, under moderating-mediating influence of travel-shaming and foreign tourist attractiveness. The present study implications extend to the development and validation of a new scale for regenerative travel. The study findings offer strategic insights and directions for imagining new business models, resources, and relationships within regenerative tourism in the post-pandemic world

Characteristics of 351 supernumerary molar teeth In Turkish population

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the demographic profile of supernumerary molar (SM) teeth in people in various regions of Turkey. Study Design: A retrospective analysis was carried out on an initial sample of 104,902 subjects drawn from the ortopantographics files from 10 clinics in 7 Turkish cities with documentation of demographic data, the presence of SM teeth, their location, eruption, morphology, and position within the arch. In one region associated patho­logies and treatments were also evaluated. Results: Three hundred fifty-one SMs were detected in 288 patients, constituting 0.33% of the study subjects, with a greater frequency in females (56.4%). SMs were found more frequently in the maxilla (87.7%) than in the mandible, and distomolars (62.9%) were more common than paramolars. The SMs encountered were mostly of conical shape (45.7%), impacted (81.1%), and in a vertical position (52.1). The 33% of SM teeth were related to impacted molar teeth. Conclusion: The most common complication involving these teeth was soft tissue irritation. Demographic data from such specific extensive studies are crucial for improved diagnosis of SM teeth. Early detection allows for measures against complications and more successful therapy